'Perfect day' proves popular

April 28, 2007|By Angela Mettler, American News Writer

When Aberdonians Kari Jung and Will Brown started planning their wedding last year, they chose July 7, 2007, a date that was convenient for them and their families. “It was the first available weekend we had,” Jung said. Little did they know, they had chosen one of the most popular days to get married - 7-7-07. Some Christians believe the number seven represents God's perfection - in Genesis, the Bible says God created the world and rested on the seventh day. The number seven is also thought to be a lucky number. “Hopefully, it brings us luck,” Jung said with a smile, noting that she and Brown won two door prizes - including a honeymoon in Orlando - at a bridal show in Sioux Falls in January. Tanya Michlitsch and Jeff Shafer chose July 7, 2007, as an easy date to remember, but also because Michlitsch's father comes back from military service in Iraq in June. “(Shafer) proposed to me the night before my dad got deployed,” she said. Whether it's lucky, holy or simply an easy date to remember, July 7 promises to be one of the busiest Saturdays for weddings this year. Stephanie Fix, a bridal consultant at Brides 'N' Belles, said 13 couples getting married July 7 are using Brides 'N' Belles' services. “Aberdeen will be very busy (that day),” she said. That includes reception facilities and other businesses that offer wedding-related services. Kari Lozenski, sales and marketing director at the AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Aberdeen, said the reception facility has been booked on July 7 for a year and a half. “As soon as people get engaged, they call,” she said. Although most of Aberdeen's reception facilities are booked for July 7, many local flower shops are not. Marla Blake, owner of the Colonial Rose, said she has more weddings on July 14 than July 7. Fix said 12 couples getting married July 14 are using Brides 'N' Belles' services. Blake said some reception facilities in the area may have been booked for family reunions on July 7, making some couples switch their weddings to another weekend. Jung said she would have chosen a different date if she had known July 7 was so popular. When Eric Gerber of Aberdeen jokingly suggested that day to his fiancee, Jane Christensen, she looked it up. When she found out it was a Saturday, they knew it was meant to be. “Since God brought us together, (the date) had to be something holy,” Gerber said. The couple purposely picked a 7 p.m. ceremony. They both love music, and they discovered they'd chosen seven songs for their ceremony. “We didn't even plan that,” Christensen said. “That just happened.” The couple became engaged Christmas 2005. Christensen said she started planning the wedding last June, making it easier to find available services such as a photographer. Amanda Fluke of Aberdeen, who will wed Thomas Twete on July 7, also started planning early. “We've actually been engaged since September 2005 and I started everything right away,” she said.